Ventilated welders face mask

ABSTRACT

Ventilating means for a welder&#39;&#39;s face mask employing a batteryoperated blower secured on the mask. Air passageways are provided in the mask which lead from the blower to inlet openings interiorly of the mask for ventilating the area between the mask and the welder&#39;&#39;s face. Batteries for operating the blower are mounted on the head band, and in structures utilizing a mask which can be tipped up on the headband, switch means are employed between the face mask and the headband which activate the blower in the down position of the mask and deactivate the blower in the up position of the mask.

United States Patent Schoelz et al.

451" Mar. 21, 1972 [54] VENTILATED WELDERS FACE MASK {72] Inventors: Willy A. E. Schoelz. Portland, Oreg.; John W. Tldland, Vancouver. Wash.

sald Schoelz, by sald 'lldland June 4, 1970 [73] Assignee:

[22] Filed:

j zu AppL N0; 43.476

52 u.s.c| .2/s.|2a/|42.7.2/17i.3 51 met. ..A6lt9l06 {58] FleldolSearch.... ..2/8,l7l.3.3.6,5;

(56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3.238.535 3/1966 Richey ..2/s 2.514390 1/1950 Dewan ..2/8 x Murphy ..2/ l7 1.3 X Wenzel ..2/8

Primary Examiner-James R. Boler Auorney-Eugene M. Eckelman l l ABSTRACT Ventilating means for a welder's face mask employing a batwry-operated blower secured on the mask. Air passageways are provided in the mask which lead from the blower to inlet openings interiorly of the mask for ventilating the area between the mask and the welders face. Batteries for operatingthe blower are mounted on the head band. and in structurcs utilizing a mask which can be tipped up on the headband, switch means are employed between the face mask and the headband which activate the blower in the down position of thc mask and deactivate the blower in the up position of the mask.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Flgttm PATENTEDMARZI I972 3, 649,964

WILLY A. E SCHOEILZ OHN W. TIDLAND ATTY. w

VENTILATED WELDERS FACE MASK this invention relates to new and useful improvements in ventilating means for face masks ofthe type worn by welders.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a welders face mask having ventilating means therefor, said ventilating means including a blower integrated with the face mask and including passageways in the mask leading from the blower to points of discharge capable of ventilating the area between the inside surface of the mask and the welders face.

Another object is to provide a face mask of the type described employing an electrically operated blower on the mask and including batteries therefor, the blower being mounted on the mask and the batteries being mounted on a headband for the mask; and also including a mask of the type described wherein switch means are located at a pivot point between the mask and the headband and arranged such that thecircuit to the blower is closed when the mask is down but is opened when the mask is up.

Still another object is to provide a face mask which carries integrally a blower mechanism and which has molded therein passageway means from the blower to various outlet points in the mask for ventilating the face of the wearer.

Yet another object is to provide a face mask of the type described wherein a blower is mounted on the mask and wherein a filter for the inlet ofthe blower is mounted on a portion of a headband and is connected to the blower by means of a flexible conduit.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the mask of the present invention, taken on the line 11 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of said mask, taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged horizontal fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of charging means for the battery ofthe present invention.

Referring now in particular to the drawings, the invention comprises a mask or helmet 10 having a face or front wall portion 12 and sidewalls 14, the face portion and sidewalls being U-shaped in lateral cross section. A top portion 16 of front wall 12 curves rearwardly and a bottom portion 18 of said front wall is similarly curved. The front wall 12 has a glass covered window 20 through which welder views his work when the mask is down.

Mask 10 is held on the operators head by a headband 22 having pivot connections 24 with the sidewalls 14 of the face mask. The headband 22 has an extension 26 at each pivot connection, FIGS. 2 and 4, for receiving a pivot pin 28 having a head portion 30 disposed on the inner side of the mask and having a threaded shank 32 projecting through the side of the helmet and adapted to receive a nut 34. A spring washer 36 is disposed between the nut 34 and the helmet, and by selective tightening of the nut 34 the force required to rotate the helmet relative to the headband can be controlled. Pivot pin 28 has a rectangular shank portion 38 which fits into a similarly shaped aperture 40 in an inwardly projecting boss portion 41 of the mask wall 14 and which projects through a round aperture 42 in the headband extension 26. By this arrangement, the pivot pin rotates with the mask and rotates relative to the headband.

The headband 22 is substantially round for fitting the head of the operator and has a semicircular upstanding band portion 48 which is adapted to extend over and seat on the top of the head.

Carried on the top of the mask at the back edge thereofis a blower 50 the outlet of which communicates with a passageway 52 molded or otherwise formed in the mask. The blower 50 may have a molded connection with the mask, as shown, or it may be bolted or otherwise secured thereto. As

best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the passageway 52 flares outwardly or widens in a downward direction and has a portion 54 extending on each side of the window 20. Each of the extensions 54 has one or more outlets or openings 56 preferably directed obliquely inwardly so as to cause the discharge of air therefrom to impinge against the operator's face at about the temples. Passageway 52 has openings 58 above the window which discharge air against the forehead of the wearer. The outlet openings 56 and 58 may be selectively arranged to provide effective inlet of air. That is, such openings may be fewer or greater in number than that shown and may be located at different positions.

Batteries for operating the blower 50 are supported in a casing 62 removably supported in clips 64 integrated with the vertical headband portion 48. Wires 66 and 68 lead from the blower and battery casing 62, respectively, and are connected into a switch mechanism incorporated in one of the pivot connections 24. More particularly, boss 41 has a pair of contacts 70 and 72, FIGS. 4 and 5. These contacts comprise thin strips of electrically conductive metal secured to the inwardly directed surface of boss 41. Contact 70 is semicircular in shape and is disposed adjacent to the outer edge of the boss. Contact 72 is circular in shape and is of less diameter than contact 70 and disposed adjacent to the aperture 40. The two wires 66 from the blower 50 are connected to respective contacts 70 and 72, and the two wires 68 from the battery casing lead to respective contacts 74 and 76 mounted in the headband extension 26. The positioning of the contacts 74 and 76 is shown in phantom in FIG. 5. As selectively arranged, contact 76 is in constant engagement with circular contact 72 and contact 74 is adapted for engagement with contact 70 only in selected rotative positioning of the mask relative to the headband. That is, when the mask is rotated up to a nonuse position contact 74 is out of engagement with contact 70 to break the circuit to the blower but when the mask is pulled down these two contacts are in engagement to start the blower.

By means of the present invention, when a welder moves his mask down, the blower automatically turns on to force air through the area between the mask and the face. Such provides fresh air circulating in the mask down past the face. Such prevents hot fumes for drifting up into the mask. Although the air intake into the blower may be unfiltered if desired, it is preferred that it be filtered in which case a flexible conduit 78 has one end connected into the intake end of the blower and its other end connected to a filter 80 mounted on a rearward portion of the headband 22, as by means of a bolt 82.

It is desired that the battery holder 62 be arranged such that it can be used with a charger for recharging the batteries in the holder. For this purpose, the battery holder is provided with a socket 83 in electrical connection with the batteries and adapted to receive a plug-in member 84 from a charger 86. Charger 86 has a male plug 88 for engagement in a conventional outlet socket. The battery holder 62 may be plugged in at night to recharge the batteries.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be restored to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. For example, the invention can be associated with masks other than welders masks and is thus not to be so limited.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A face mask comprising a. a mask portion having top, front and sidewalls and also having an inside surface,

b. a headband on said mask portion for supporting the latter on the head of the wearer,

c. a power operated blower mounted on the top wall of said mask portion,

d. passageway means in said mask portion leading from said blower,

e. said passageway means having extensions leading to at least one side of said mask to a point at about the mouth and nose area of the wearer when the mask is supported on the head,

and means in said passageway defining an outlet on the inside surface of said mask portion in the area of the mouth and the nose of the wearer for supplying air from said blower. The face mask of claim 1 wherein said passageway means has an extension leading down both sides of said mask portion and is supplied from both sides.

each extension has an outlet whereby air from said blower The face mask of claim 2 wherein said passageway also leads along the front of said mask portion and has outlets in the area of the forehead of the wearer when the mask is supported on the head.

A face mask comprising:

a mask portion,

a front window in said mask portion,

a headband on said mask portion for supporting the latter on the head of the wearer,

. a blower mounted on said mask portion, and passageway means in said mask portion leading from 5. A face mask comprising a. a mask portion,

b. a headband on said mask portion;

c. pivot means attaching said mask portion to said headband for rotating the mask from a down use position to an up nonuse position,

d. an electrically operated blower mounted on said mask portion,

e. switch means on said headband operated by said mask and arranged to activate the circuit to the blower when the mask is down and deactivate the circuit to the blower when the mask is up,

f. and passageway means in said mask portion leading from said blower to outlet means on the inside surface of said mask for directing air across the face of the wearer.

6. The face mask of claim 5 wherein said switch means is in the pivot connection of said mask portion and headband.

7. A face mask comprising a. a mask portion,

b. a headbarrd on said mask portion for supporting the latter on the head of the wearer,

c. a blower mounted on said mask portion having an inlet,

d. a filter mounted on said headband and connected to the inlet of said blower by a flexible conduit,

e. and passageway means in said mask portion leading from said blower to outlet means on the inside surface of said mask for directing air across the face of the wearer. 

1. A face mask comprising a. a mask portion having top, front and sidewalls and also having an inside surface, b. a headband on said mask portion for supporting the latter on the head of the wearer, c. a power operated blower mounted on the top wall of said mask portion, d. passageway means in said mask portion leading from said blower, e. said passageway means having extensions leading to at least one side of said mask to a point at about the mouth and nose area of the wearer when the mask is supported on the head, f. and means in said passageway defining an outlet on the inside surface of said mask portion in the area of the mouth and the nose of the wearer for supplying air from said blower.
 2. The face mask of claim 1 wherein said passageway means has an extension leading down both sides of said mask portion and each extension has an outlet whereby air from said blower is supplied from both sides.
 3. The face mask of claim 2 wherein said passageway also leads along the front of said mask portion and has outlets in the area of the forehead of the wearer when the mask is supported on the head.
 4. A face mask comprising: a. a mask portion, b. a front window in said mask portion, c. a headband on said mask portion for supporting the latter on the head of the wearer, d. a blower mounted on said mask portion, e. and passageway means in said mask portion leading from said blower to outlet means on the inside surface of said mask for directing air across the face of the wearer. f. said passageway means being disposed around at least two sides of said window and said outlet means comprising a plurality of apertures in the wall of said passageway means disposed on at least two of said sides of the window.
 5. A face mask comprising a. a mask portion, b. a headband on said mask portion; c. pivot means attaching said mask portion to said headband for rotating the mask from a down use position to an up nonuse position, d. an electrically operated blower mounted on said mask portion, e. switch means on said headband operated by said mask and arranged to activate the circuit to the blower when the mask is down and deactivate the circuit to the blower when the mask is up, f. and passageway means in said mask portion leading from said blower to outlet means on the inside surface of said mask for directing air across the face of the wearer.
 6. The face mask of claim 5 wherein said switch means is in the pivot connection of said mask portion and headband.
 7. A face mask comprising a. a mask portion, b. a headband on said mask portion for supporting the latter on the head of the wearer, c. a blower mounted on said mask portion having an inlet, d. a filter mounted on said headband and connected to the inlet of said blower by a flexible conduit, e. and passageway means in said mask portion leading from said blower to outlet means on the inside surface of said mask for directing air across the face of the wearer. 